Cotton-bleaching apparatus.



T. G. HANEY. COTTON BLEACHING APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED 3UNE18. 1911.

Patented Feb. 5, 1918.

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vi. a. HANEY COTTON BLEACHING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 18. 1917.

Patented Feb. 5,1918.

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Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed June 18, 1917. Serial No. 175,253.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS G. HANEY, a citizen of the United States,residing at New London, in the county of New London and State ofConnecticut, have invented certain new and useful. Improvements inCotton- Bleaching Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a cotton-bleach ing apparatus. '1 haveselected the title given as a matter of convenience for really thebleaching of the product is but a step or incident in the procedure. Inthe treatment of cotton it is initially washed and is subsequentlybaled. At an intermediate point, however, it is subjected to a bleachingaction. One of the primary motives I have in view is the provision ofapparatus by which this bleaching can be accomplished in a quick andhighly satisfactory manner, and in a readier and quickerway than is nowpossible.

In the drawings accompanying and forming part of the presentspecification l[ have shown in detail a form of apparatus involving theinvention, and this ll will set forth fully in the followingdescription. As will be obvious I am not restricted to this structure. Imay depart therefrom in various ways within the scope of the inventiondefined by the claims following said description.

Referring to said drawings: I

'Fi'gure 1 is a plan view of apparatus in volving the invention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation.

Fig. 3 is an elevation as seen from the left in Fig. 2. V

- Fig. 4 is an elevation as seen from the left in Fig. 3 of a portion ofthe carriage. Fig. 5 is a detail view of a vat and certain V of itsadjuncts, and

Fig. 6 is an. elevation as seen from the right in Fig. '5. p Fig. 7 is adiagram illustrative of a drive for an overhead carriage. 1 Likecharacters refer to like parts through out theseveral views which are ondifierent scales. p

The cotton after it is initially prepared as by washing is dischargedinto a suitable carrier such for instanceas a traveling carriage' "whereit is subjected tocertain preliminary treatments such as shredding, andafter-this is conveyed into ;.a' -b1eacniag device where as may beinferred it is bleached. I provide several of these bleachlng devices,and a carriage provided with certam necessary mechanism, the carriagebeing common to the several bleaching devices. .As shown there areseveral of such bleaching devices,

such as those denoted respectively in a general way by 2, 3, 4c and 5 inFig. 1. Although there are four of such bleaching devices, this may notin all cases be necessary. For facil As the bleaching devices are allthe same in construction a detailed description of one of them forinstance that denoted by 2 as shown for illustration in Figs. 2 to6'inclu sive will apply to the others. Said bleaching device comprises avat or tank such as that denoted in a general way by 7 and which isusually stationary. It may as shown he sunk for a short distance into afloor or other support as 8. It is adapted to contain a bleachingsolution which may be any one of those now used. The tank? supports adrum as 9 having outwardly eX-T tending coaxial gudgeons or studs 10sustained by pillow blocks or equivalent bears ings as '11 on the sidesof the vat or tank 7.:" The peripheral portion of the drum or ro-xs taryvessel 9 is perforated and has openings covered by doors as 12. Byopening one'of these doors the drum 9 may be supplied with the cotton tobe bleached, and when the requisite amount is introduced thereinto thedoor is closed andthe drum then rotated "as will hereinafter appear, tocause the bleaching solution to reach every part of the mass of cottonwithin the drum, the liquid circulating through the mesh of theperipheral or circumferential portion of the drum. After the necessaryamount of cotton or equivalent substance has been supplied into thedrum, the latter is subjected to rotation whenthe bleaching commencesand at-the conclusion of the requisite time the'drumwith its contents iselevated bodily from tli bleaching solution tank 7, so that the cottonmay drain, 1 When the cotton isid'rainedfit is discharged from the drumby opening Patented Feb. a, iota.

both doorsl2, onto the floor or otherwise disposed of to permit it todry for prelimlnary or subsequent and final treatment.

' gear 16 in mesh with the worm 17 on the V diate pulley 22.

shaft 18 connected as by gearing 19 with the shaft 20, provided with thepulleys 21, 22 and 23, the intermediate pulley 22 being looseon theshaft 20, while the two outside pulleys 21 and 23 are tight with saidshaft.

Cooperative with the pulleys 21,22 and 23' is the'belt 25' driven by asuitable source of power and shown as being on the interme- By shiftingthe belt through a suitable shifter such as that denoted'ina general wayby' 26'onto either of the pulleys 21 or 23, the shaft 20 will be drivento effect through the intervention of the described parts, the rotationof the drum or cylinder 9 andthe resultant subjection of themass ofcotton therein, to the action of the bleaching agent. It will be assumedthat the drum 9 of the bleaching device 2 has been filled with therequisite quantity of cotton and that the doors 12 are as a resultclosed. In this event the drum will be caused to rotate through theaction of the parts already described to bleach the material in thedrum. When the bleaching is finished the drum with its contents iselevated from the tank and the liquid drained therefrom falling into thetank. After the draining operation the drum is shifted from over thetank and the doors 12 opened, so

.thatthe contents of the drum can be discharged therefrom onto the flooror otherwise.

As I have already noted there are four of such bleaching devices, andthey are supplied in succession with the necessary cotton asby thecarriage 6. As shown this carriage involves in its make-up a supportingbody such as 30, provided with wheels as 31 to travel on the rails 32adjacent to the tanks 7 of the row of bleaching devices 2. The railsconstituting a suitable track are in fact virtually parallel with thetanks. The power for driving the different parts on the carriage 6 maybe of any convenient 1 nature, the electric motor 33 supported by thebase portion of the frame of the carriage answering in this particular.The necessary current for the operation of the motor 33 may be suppliedin any desirable manner as will be clear. The body of the carriage 6 isdenoted by 36 and it is practically of hopper-like form. The inner sideof the veyer or belt 37.

hopper-like body 36, it will be seen is higher than the outer side, seefor instance Fig. 2. In the hopper-like body and parallel to the rearinclined wall thereof is the endless con- The forward run of thisendless conveyer 37 and the forward wall of the hopper-like body 36jointly present a V-shaped pocket into which the cotton to be bleachedis deposited. The armature shaft of the motor 33 is equipped with apulley 38 connected as by the belt 39 with the pulley 10 on the shaft41, this shaft in turn carrying the pulley 4C2 connected by the belt 43with the pulley 44: on the shaft 45, the latter carrying a second pulley4:6 connected by the cross belt 47 with the pulley -18 on the lowershaft of the conveyor 37, the forward or active run of which moves inthe direction of the arrow applied thereto in Fig. 2. The shaft 15extends between and is supported by the side walls of the hopper-likebody 36. The shaft 41 is also similarly supported for reasons that willhereinafter appear. It willbe clear, therefore, that if the motor 33 bestarted, the forward run of the endless conveyer or belt 37 will bemoved in the direction of the arrow applied thereto in said Fig. 2 so asto elevate the mass of cotton sustained thereby. The cotton on the conveyer 37 is in mass. It is given first a primary treatment and then asecondary treat lnent as will hereinafter appear before it passes intothe drum 9. The cotton is dis charged after the secondary treatment fromthe conveyer 37 onto the upper inclined run of the conveyer 50 supportedbetween the side walls of the extension 51 of the hopperlike body 6.This conveyor 50 has connected with the rear shaft thereof the pulley 52connected by the belt 53 with a pulley 54 on the upper shaft of the mainor primary conveyer 37. The cotton is discharged from the secondaryconveyer 50 into the necessary circumferential opening of theappropriate drum 9. The sides of the hopper-like body 36 are providedwith bearings 55 supporting the shaft 56 from which the arms 57 extendinwardly, these. arms 57 being connected by a shaft 58 having the bowedfin gers 59 which come in contact with the cot ton as it travels upwardalong the forward run of the belt 37 to comb said cotton as the arms 57are rocked or oscillated as will here inafter appear. The shaft 56 mayas shown be provided with the outwardly extending counterweighted arm60. Further it is equipped with an arm 61 connected by a rod 62 with thedisk 63 rotative with the shaft 45 to which I have already referred. Theconnection between the rod 62 and the disk 63 is eccentric of thelatter, so that as a consequence the rod 62 is given a reciprocativemovement in the direction of its length, thus through the describedparts to impart a rocking movement to the shaft 58 and the curvedfingers 59 projecting therefrom to comb the mass of cotton under theaction of the fingers. Just forward of the delivery end of the primaryor principal conveyer 37 and between it and the secondary conveyer 50 isa roller 64. between the sides of the hopper-like body 36, the shaft ofthe roller being provided with. a pulley 65 connected by the belt 66with the pulley 67 on the shaft .4 1. This roller 64 is provided withcircumferential projections or teeth 68 which shred or comb the cottonjust as it leaves the conveyer 37 and before it passes onto the conveyer50. The cotton when it passes onto the secondary conveyor is shredded,broken up or divided, so that it is in prime and proper position toenter a drum as 9 in the manner already described. After the drum 9 ofsay the first bleaching device 2 is supplied with the requisite amountof cotton. the carriage 6 is moved along the rails 32 for the supply ofcotton to the drum of the second bleaching device and so on, theprocedure in view of this circumstance being practically continuous,which is obviously a feature of importance.

' After the cotton has been properly bleached the drum containing itwill be elevated, the liquid from the drum being permitted to draintherefrom into the vat or tank 7. I have shown. a means by which thedrums can be properly elevated. Supported above the several bleachingdevices 2, 3, t and 5 is a track 70, this track being in suit ablerelation with the rails 32. It is generally carried upon the ceiling,although it may be below it. It supports a suitable car riage as 71 fromwhich the endless band or rope 72 is suspended, the band or belt beingpassed around the pulley 73 and in its loop sustaining another pulley 74. Connected with the band 72 is the cross head 75 from which the arms76 depend, the arms terminating in hooks 77 which are adapted to engagewhen. desired the gudgeons 1.0 of a drum 9.

It will be assumed that it is desired to lift a drum 9 from the tank 7it may occupy. In

. this case the carriage 71 will be operated to bring it over thedesired drum. Said carriage may be operated as follows: It may beequipped with. a band wheel 80 on the shaft of which is a traction wheelor wheels 81 i iunning on the track or girder 70. Around this band wheel80 is the band 82 which hangs down and through the manipulation of theband 82, the carriage 71 can be caused to traverse the track, rail orgirder 70 to bring the band or rope 72 over the desired drum 9. Thecross-head 7 5 is shown ele rated by dotted lines in Fig. 5, thecarriage 71 at this time being over the drum 9. On the carriage 71 is amotor 83 the leads of which are intersected by a switch 84 to theterminals of which are connected the cords or chains 85 and 86 havingpull pieces 87. By operating the cord 85 for instance cur rent of onepolarity can be sent through the line to. lower the crosshead 75, sothat the hooks 77 can engage the gudgeons 10 of the drum 9, and whenthis is done current will. be shut ofi'. Then current of oppositepolarity will be sent through the motor through the operation of thecord 86 to effect the elevation of the drum 9 over its tank as shown forinstance by dotted lines in said Fig. 5. This will permit the cotton inthe drum to drain, the drainage liquid passing into the tank. Whendrainage has proceeded to the requisite extent, the drum will be shiftedto the dotted line position in the left in said Fig. 5 so as to bring itfrom over the tank, and if necessary, the drum will be turned to bringthe doors 12 down, and when this is clone both doors will be opened todischarge the contents of the drum onto the floor.

What I claim is:

1. The combination of a hopper, an endless conveyer in the hopper, aseries of rocking fingers extending across the conveyor between the endsthereof, to comb the material on the conveyor, and a rotary cylinderapproximately at the delivery end of the conveyer and extending acrossthe same, said rotary cylinder having a series of peripheral teeth toshred the material approximately at the time the material is dischargedfrom the conveyer.

2. The combination of a hopper, an endless conveyor in the hopper set atan incline,

a series of rocking fingers disposed in front of the forward run of theconveyer to comb the material between the ends of the conveyer, a rotarycylinder exten ding across the I conveyer practically at the deliveryend thereof and having a series of peripheral projections to shred thematerial practically at the time it is discharged from the conveyer, asecond conveyer to receive the material from the first conveyer, and ableaching device into which the material is discharged by the secondconveyer.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of twowitnesses.

THOMAS G. HANEY.

Witnesses:

Loms E. H. MEYER, JAsrEn P. HAsKELL.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents. Washington, 30. It.

